Support assembly for a horizontally-extending member

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for a horizontally-extending member has a pair of support devices, each support device having a leg with a lower end engageable with the ground and an upper end carrying a retainer for retaining the horizontally-extending member in position. The legs of the support devices are secured together with the legs diverging downwardly from and laterally of the horizontally-extending member in a member supporting configuration.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to support assemblies for horizontally extendingmembers. The horizontally extending member may for example be part of asawhorse, a fence, or scaffolding.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many different types of support assemblies have been used in the pastfor horizontally extending members such as those mentioned above.However, there is still a need for a support assembly which is simple,inexpensive, easy to assemble and dismantle and is sufficiently strong.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a support assembly for ahorizontally extending member includes a pair of support devices, eachsupport device having a leg with a lower end engageable with the groundand an upper end carrying a retainer for retaining the horizontallyextending member in position, and a securing means operable to securethe legs of the support devices together with the legs divergingdownwardly from and laterally of the horizontally-extending member in amember supporting, configuration. The legs may also diverge downwardlyfrom and longitudinally of the horizontally-extending member to provideincrease longitudinal stability.

Each retainer may have a horizontally extending rectangular aperturewhich slidably receives a horizontally-extending member of correspondingrectangular section. The securing means may comprise a nut and bolt, andeach leg may be of adjustable length.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sawhorse utilizing two supportassemblies in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one of the support assemblies,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fence utilizing two supportassemblies, and

FIG. 4 is a side view of another fence utilizing two support assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a sawhorse utilizing two supportassemblies 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, thesupport assemblies 12 supporting a horizontally extending member 14 ofrectangular section. Each support assembly has a pair of support devices16, with each support device having a tubular leg 18 of square sectionwith a lower end 20 engageable with the ground and an upper end carryinga retainer 22 for retaining the horizontally-extending member 14 inposition.

The legs 18 of the support devices 16 of each support assembly 12 aresecured together by a bolt 24 which extends through the legs 18 justbelow the retainer 22, the bolt 24 being provided with washers 25 andbeing secured by a nut 26. In this embodiment, the rectangular shape ofthe horizontal member 14 and the retainers 22 serve to retain the legs18 of the support assembly 12 in a position in which the legs 18 divergedownwardly from and laterally of the horizontal member 14 in a membersupporting configuration. The legs 18 also diverge downwardly from andlongitudinally of the horizontal member 14 to provide increasedlongitudinal stability. The angle of inclination in this respect may beabout 10-15°, as indicated in FIG. 4.

The legs 18 are of adjustable length such that the height of thehorizontal member 14 can be adjusted. Each leg 18 has an upper part 30and a lower part 32 telescopically slidable therein. Each leg part 30,32 has a series of apertures 34,36 respectively spaced along the lengththereof, and a pin 38 positionable in aligned apertures 34, 36 to securethe leg parts 30, 32 at a desired length. The pin 38 is retained inposition by a spring clip 40. The lower leg part 32 carries a foot plate42 at its lower end.

FIG. 1 shows two support assemblies being used as a sawhorse. FIG. 2illustrates how easily the support assemblies can be assembled anddismantled.

FIG. 3 shows the use of two support assemblies with two horizontalmembers 44 which are connected by a hinge 46 to form part of a fence.FIG. 4 shows the use of two support assemblies with two horizontalmembers 44 which are connected by an in-line connector 50 which has ahorizontally-extending rectangular aperture which receives end portionsof the two horizontal members 44. The connector 50 has two bolts 52threadedly mounted therein which can be rotated to cause their innerends to engage the respective horizontal members 44 and retain them inthe connector 50.

If desired, support assemblies in accordance with the invention may alsobe used as scaffolding components.

It will now be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that asupport assembly in accordance with the invention is simple,inexpensive, easy to assemble and dismantle and suitably strong. Thesupport assembly may be constructed of suitable metal and/or plasticmaterial. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

1. (Cancelled)
 2. A support assembly according to claim 8 wherein thelegs also diverge downwardly from and longitudinally of thehorizontal-extending member to provide increased longitudinal stability.3. (Cancelled)
 4. A support assembly according to claim 8 wherein thesecuring means comprises a nut and bolt.
 5. A support assembly accordingto claim 8 wherein the legs are of adjustable length.
 6. A fencecomprising two support assemblies in accordance with claim 8 and twohorizontally-extending members each supported by a respective supportassembly and also including a hinge which connects adjacent ends of thetwo horizontally-extending members for relative movement about avertical access.
 7. A fence comprising two support assemblies inaccordance with claim 8 and two horizontally-extending members eachsupported by a respective support assembly and also including an in-lineconnector which rigidly connects adjacent ends of the twohorizontally-extending members in a linear manner.
 8. A support assemblyfor a horizontally-extending member of rectangular section, said supportassembly including a pair of support devices, each support device havinga leg with a lower end engageable with the ground and an upper endcarrying a retainer with a rectangular aperture for slidably receivingin a horizontal direction a horizontally-extending member ofcorresponding rectangular section to retain the horizontally-extendingmember in position, and securing means operable to secure the legs ofthe support device together whereby the rectangular shape of thehorizontally-extending member and the retainer aperture serve in use toretain the legs in a position with the legs diverging downwardly fromand laterally of the horizontally-extending member in a membersupporting configuration.
 9. A support assembly and ahorizontally-extending member of rectangular section supported thereby,said support assembly including a pair support devices, each supportdevice having a leg with a lower end in engagement with the ground andan upper end carrying a retainer with a rectangular aperture slidablyreceiving the horizontally-extending member of corresponding rectangularsection and retaining the horizontally-extending member in position, andsecuring means securing the legs of the support devices together, therectangular shape of the horizontally-extending member and therectangular aperture retaining the legs in position with the legsdiverging downwardly from and laterally of the horizontally-extendingmember in a member supporting configuration.